Lindsey Smith won a Victoria Derby with Plastered in 2004 and he can claim the Group 1 classic for a second time with Far Too Strong at Flemington on October 30.
His latest Perth raider is a 3yo son of Vinery sire All Too Hard from Cailin Miss (Domesday). He was bred in Victoria by Makybe owner Tony Santich and is a half-brother to La Mexicana (MRC Kevin Hayes Stakes Gr.3).
Far Too Strong won an Ascot nursery in April and went for a spell following a creditable fifth in the WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m). He resumed at Belmont with an ultra-impressive victory in the Amelia Park Plate (1600m) on September 18 ahead of a possible start in the Ladies Day Cup (1600m) at Northam this Sunday.
Smith trains Far Too Strong for Greenfields Stud owner Tony Patrizi. The Capel property is the oldest commercial stud operating in WA going back to the 1920s when legendary horseman Rowley Roberts began prepping yearlings for the Perth Sale.
“Lindsey bought him out of a paddock at Makybe and the grand plan is the Victorian Derby,” Greenfields manager Lachlan Donnelly said this week. “We thought he would be underdone first-up but he was very strong through the line. He’s still raw so it was a super win.”
Paul Harvey, who piloted Plastered at Flemington, was riding Far Too Strong for the first time at Belmont. “It took him a while to wind up and he will only keep improving,” Harvey said after weighing in. “He feels like an out-and-out stayer so let’s see what happens when the penny drops.”
Apart from his domestic Group 1 spring hopefuls, All Too Hard has several off-shore gallopers being groomed for Group 1 campaigns.
In Hong Kong, his star sprinter Wellington was given a serious gallop over 800m at Sha Tin on Monday morning. He ran home the last 400m in 23.30s working with stablemate Rattan (NZ).
Wellington was last seen winning the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr.1, 1200m) at Sha Tin in April. He was bred by Kia-Ora Stud and they welcomed an All Too Hard filly from his dam Mihiri (More Than Ready) in August.
Trainer Richard Gibson will have him peaking for the AUD $4.25million Longines Hong Kong Sprint (Gr.1, 1200m) at Sha Tin on December 12.
In New Zealand, Babylon Berlin won a half-mile barrier trial untouched by 9 lengths last week. She looked a horse with potential earlier this year winning the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes Gr.3 at Te Rapa and trainer Ben Foote has been pleased with her progress.
“She’s a bigger, stronger horse now and is just as angry. I have high expectations. We will try and secure a Group 1 win here and then her future would lie in Australia.”
All Too Hard sired Babylon Berlin from You Can’t Say That (Fusaichi Pegasus) and she is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Darci Be Good (Hawkesbury Cup & Newcastle Spring Stakes).
In Singapore, Hard Too Think will be back in harness for a Kranji Stakes (1400m) this Saturday. He won the Singapore Derby (Gr.1, 1800m) in July when trainer Stephen Gray declared the classic was just a stepping-stone for the Singapore Gold Cup (Gr.1, 2000m) in November.
“Saturday’s race will be too short,” Gray admitted. “The main aim is the Gold Cup, it’s still worth $1million, after all. He’s been ticking over nicely and we will just have to wait a while to have a better idea how he gets there.”
Hard Too Think was bred by Gerry Harvey at Baramul Lodge and he will likely race second-up in the QEII Cup (Gr.1, 1800) at Kranji on October 16.
All Too Hard is standing for a $33,000 (inc GST) service fee at Vinery Stud with payment on live foal. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
